Shoe-shaping device



May 22, 1962 H. R. WAKEMAN 3,035,290

SHOE-SHAPING DEVICE Filed May 9, 1960 ,JfimoLp R MKEMA N,

IN VEN TOR.

BY MS Arr-always.

71 2215, ,K/EChf, flusssu. @KEQM nited States Patent 3,035,290 SHGE-SHAPING DEVICE Harold R. Wakeman, 300 Dalkeith Ave., Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed May 9, 1960, Ser. No. 27,946 1 Claim. (Cl. 12--12tl.5)

The present invention relates in general to shoe-shaping devices and, in particular, to a shoe-shaping device applying external reshaping forces to a shoe and being mountable on a support panel or the like.

My invention provides a trinity of external reshaping forces to be applied to a shoe, preferably in a triangular pattern. The device contemplates the application of forces at two points on the heel portion of the shoe, one a fOf-r ward force applied to the heel itself in the general direction of the toe of the shoe, the other a rearward force applied in the opposite direction to the heel-back of the shoe. The latter force is particularly important to-the invention as it narrows the neck of the shoe by elliptically elongating the shoe opening, the narrow neck being a characteristic of a new shoe. counteracting and establishing such forces is a third force applied to the toe portion of the shoe in a substantially downward direction through a toe holddown bracket. Application of this third force completes a triangle of forces thereby suspending the shoe upper in tension resulting from the simultaneous action of the externally applied reshaping forces.

An important object of the invention is to provide a shoe-shaping device that permits the shoe to realign itself, following its own pre-established contour pattern, to its original orthopedic character and shape, without deformation from internal forces.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device wherein the elements of the device that establish the aforementioned trinity of forces are secured to a mounting member that is removably attached to a continuous support panel or the like. A further object is to dispose a pair of shoe-shaping elements side by side on such a panel spaced to receive a pair of shoes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device including a continuous support panel having at least a pair of opposed parallel mounting brackets located thereon defining a slide space therebetween to enable a plurality of mounting members to be slidably received therein.

An important object of the invention is to provide a shoe-shaping device wherein the continuous support panel is recessed to permit shoes to be stored and reshaped in a relatively inconspicuous manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device which, while accommodating a large number of shoes, provides a compact space saving device for the storage of shoes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device wherein the shoe is placed in a shoe-shaping position by a relatively simple, one-hand, easily-performed motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device that can b precision adjusted for both size of shoe and tension desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shoe-shaping device having a resilient support means engageable with the ball portion of the shoe sole and exerting an upward force thereon in a direction away from the sole. This force stabilizes the shoe during insertion into the device by preventing it from swinging or rolling during such insertion. Additionally, this force tends to straighten the shoe and creates a binding action at the toe hold-down bracket that serves to hold the shoe firmly in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device that has a positive working action and that is provided with an adjustment means that will hold fast and secure until readjustment is desired.

Still a further object is to provide a shoe-shaping device with a high degree of versatility and adaptability as concerns the many types of installations that are possible; also to provide such a device which minimizes the problems and drudgery associated with shoe handling, storage and care.

A further object is to provide a shoe-shaping device that can be mounted on any wall or surface or that can bridge suitably spaced mounting supports. In this connection it is an. object to provide a shoe-shaping device that can be mounted in any position, whether it be upright, horizontal or on a slope, and that can be installed in virtually any existing improvised or built-in storage area, e.g., on a wall or floor of a closet, a wood or metal cabinet or locker, an article of luggage, etc.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shoe-shaping device when being assembled;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the shoe-shaping device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a rigid heel-back bracket and a heel-engagement means attached to the mounting member of the shoe-shaping device; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the rigid heel-aback bracket and heel-engagement means.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3 of the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a shoe-shaping device wherein a shoe 12 having a heel-back 14, a heel 16, a sole 18', a ball portion 20, a neck 22, and a toe 24 is shown in a shoeshaping position.

In FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing the shoe-shaping device illustrated includes a mounting member 26 preferably made of sheet metal or the like providinga substantially rectangular mounting surface 28 having a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots 30" located therein, each of the slots 30 opening on one end of the mounting surface 28 but terminating short of the other end therof. The mounting member 26 further provides side walls 32 and end walls 34 extending perpendicular to, and rearwardly of, the mounting surface 28. The slots 3%) serve respectively to space the shoe-shaping devices 10, these slots being laterally spaced from each other a sufficient distance, typically about 4.5 inches, to receive a pair of shoes. If the mounting member 26 is built to accommodate two shoes and to be mounted side by side with other mounting members, the slots may be spaced from the sides of the mounting a lesser distance so that shoes on adjoining members are spaced substantially the same as shoes on the same member.

At one end of each of the longitudinal slots 30 is a rigid heel-back bracket 36 and a heel-engagement means 38. The rigid heel-back bracket B6 comprises a base 40, a post portion 42, and a return portion 44 rigidly attached to the post portion 42. This return portion extends toward the base 40 but terminates short of the inner heel surface of the shoe to engage the heel-back 14 exclusively in the upper half thereof. The return portion is of a size to fit into and press rearwardly with a force against the heel-back 14 of the shoe 12 when another force is applied to the toe of the shoe to move same into a shoe-shaping position. The rearward force applied by the return portion 44 is particularly important in that it narrows the neck 22 of the shoe 12 by elliptical elongation as a result of the urging together of the side edges of the shoe neck 22, such a narrow Shoe neck 22 being a characteristic of a new shoe or one continually shaped by using the invention. The heel-back bracket 36 is made of opposing symmetrical metal strips 46 each comprising one-half of such bracket and secured together by spot welding, or any similar means.

The heel-engagement means 38 includes a plate 48 transverse to the post portion 42 of the heel-back bracket 36 having an up-turned heel-engaging member or tab 50 positioned on each side of a longitudinal axis of a corresponding slot 30 in the mounting surface 28. The heel-engagement means 38 is secured to the mounting surface 28 as by spot welding or any similar means and its heel-engaging tabs 50 are located at a position spaced forwardly of the return portion 44 of the heelback bracket 36 and in fixed relationship thereto. This position is such that the shoe sole 18 is at a substantial angle relative to the mounting surface 28 when the shoe is inserted so that when the shoe toe 24 is moved toward the mounting surface to decrease such angle the heelengagement means 38 exerts a force on the heel 16 of the shoe 12 in a direction toward the shoe toe 24 to bring the shoe into a shoe-shaping position.

At the other end of each longitudinal slot 30 is located a toe hold-down bracket 52 including a lower or base portion 54, a resilient post portion 56, and a latch portion 58 having a latch member 60. The latch member 60 is bent to hook over and secure the toe of the shoe sole 18. The latch portion 58 has arms 62 that are bent around the resilient post portion 56 to form guide elements slidable along the post portion 56. The latch portion 58 and the post portion 56 are adjustably attached by a vertically adjustable means including a slot (not shown) in the post portion 56 and a rotatable clamping nut 66 passing through the slot and threaded into the latch portion 58. This vertical adjustment permits the device to be adjusted to accommodate shoes of different sizes or shapes and allows for the adjustment of the tension applied to the shoe 12 when in shoe-shaping position.

The 'lower or base portion 54 of the toe hold-down bracket 52 is parallel to the mounting surface 28 and at one end has an up-turned flange member 68. The lower end of the resilient post portion 56 is sandwiched between this flange member 68 and a square washer-like element 70 by a rivet 72.

At the other or rear end of the lower or base portion 54 is an upwardly curved resilient support means comprising a resilient sole-engaging member 74 positioned to engage the ball portion 20 of the shoe 12. The engagement of the member 74 with the shoe ball 20 tends to straighten the shoe and stabilize it during insertion. Additionally, it prevents rocking of the shoe and it creates a binding action at the toe hold-down bracket 52 by firmly securing the toe 24 in a locked position with respect to the latch member 60. Also at the rear end of the lower or base portion 54 is a down-turned flange member 75 riding within the slot 30 as a guide element. The lower portion 54 is longitudinally adjustably attached to the mounting surface 28. A knurled thumb nut 76 having a screw portion passing through a hole in the lower or base portion 54 and threaded into a slidable securing element or nut 77 below the slot 30 allows for the adjustability necessary to conform to shoes of various lengths.

The toe hold-down bracket 52 exerts the aforementioned substantially downward force on the shoe toe 24, as suggested. As this is the third and final force applied to the shoe 12, the shoe is now in a state of equilibrium, held in tension by the simultaneous action of a trinity of exterior forces.

A mounting structure is provided to receive and mount each mounting member 26 to a continuous support panel '80 shown as having an outer peripheral wall 82 extending from the perimeter thereof in a direction perpendicular to the support panel 80. This mounting structure provides at least one pair of opposed parallel mounting brackets 84 of substantially U-shaped cross-section, each pair of the brackets 84 defining a longitudinal slide space 86 therebetween. The brackets 84 provide short tabs 88 to be secured to the panel as by screws 90. In the event a double row of mounting members 26 is desired (FIGS. 2 and 3) an intermediate mounting bracket 92 of substantially H-shaped cross-section may be secured on the panel 80 between the mounting brackets 84 in order to provide an upper and a lower slide space 86.

The mounting members 26 are of a thickness to be slidably receivable within the slide space 86 defined by each pair of track members or mounting brackets 84, the end walls 34 of each mounting member 26 being slidably received within each mounting bracket 84. For permanency the mounting members 26 may be secured to the panel 80 by screws, or the like, at openings 94 provided in the mounting surface 28.

An alternative form of the rigid heel-back bracket 36 is shown in FIG. 5 wherein one of the end walls 34 of the mounting member 26 provides a narrow slit 96 positioned on each side of the longitudinal axis of each of the slots 30, each of the slits 96 being transverse to the longitudinal slots 30 and located adjacent the mounting surface 28. The heel-back bracket 36 is shown as having a base 98 including a hook means 100 of a size to be removably insertable within each of the slits 96 to detachably connect the heel-back bracket 36 to the mounting member 26.

In FIG. 5 an alternative embodiment of the heelengagement means is also shown. The heel-engagement means 102 includes a pair of upstanding heel-engaging members or tabs 104 formed integrally with the mounting surface 28 and spaced symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the corresponding slot 30.

The shoe-shaping device 10 is easily assembled, secured and utilized. It provides automatic uniform spacing of the shoes being shaped. The mounting members 26 are slidably moved into position within the slide space 86 defined by each pair of parallel mounting brackets 84 on the support panel 80 and the device is ready to receive shoes 12 for reshaping. The preferred procedure for insuring proper shoe reshaping is as follows: The shoe 12 is inserted beneath the return portion 44 of the rigid heel-back bracket 36 with the return portion engaging the heel-back 14. As the above step is completed the shoe heel 16 settles against the heelengagement means 38 with the heel engaging the upturned members 50. The shoe 12 is now supported in an inclined position relative to the mounting member 26 by these two contact points at the heel and heel-back positions. In orders to place the shoe in tension and consequently in a reshaping position the shoe toe 24 is pressed downwardly until the latch member 60 engages the top of the toe of the sole with the result that the shoe is now held in a shoe-shaping position allowing for natural realignment to its original orthopedic character.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various minor changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claim which follows.

I claim as my invention. return portion forwardly thereof extending to- A shoe-shaping device for applying to a shoe a trinity Ward but spaced from said wall, of reshaping forces, comprising: (0 said portions being rigidly interconnected in superimposed relation; and 5 (d) a toe hold-down member mounted adjacent the forward end of said slot and adjustable along the length of said slot.

(a) a sheet metal mounting member including (a a flat upper Wall having a longitudinal slot therein and (a side Walls and end Walls extending downwardly from said upper wall; References Cited in the file of this patent (b) heel-engaging tabs mounted adjacent one end of 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS said slot to engage the rear heel surface of a shoe;

(0) a rigid heel back bracket comprising two metal gigggg g fli g strips secured at their inner ends to said upper wall ano e 2,513,372 Shurtz July 4, 1950 rearwardly of said tabs, (0 said strips each having one portion extending 15 FOREIGN PATENTS away from said upper wall and having a second 1,385 Great Britain J an. 19, 1910 

